Reverse your Bucket List for the New Year!

Happy New Year, Friends. Welcome to 2018. Please do yourself a favor and focus NOT on what you hope to change in your life this new year ahead but perhaps look a little darn closer at your life journey & what you have already accomplished. We often forget what we have already done.

Yes, my friends, let’s focus on the greatness that has already happened or perhaps happening RIGHT now!

I love this quote: “Attitude is the difference between an ordeal or an adventure.”-Bob Bitchin Your attitude in life and the way you “frame your journey” can make a BIG difference in the way your perceive what is happening, happened or about to happen in your life. With that in mind, how can your frame up some of the positive aspects of your life so far?

My friend, Kari, introduced me to the idea of a reverse bucket list that featured what she had accomplished and what has made her proud thus far in her life. I love this idea! I hope that you set aside some time to create your reverse bucket list too!

I grew up in a household that frowned on acknowledging personal success. Discussing something you were proud of was viewed as being “too ego focused” with the fear that being too boastful of your accomplishments would “go to your head”. Ha! I could not disagree more with this philosophy as an adult! I think basking in the glory (not gloating) in your proud moments is another way of being gracious…to yourself!

Creating a reverse bucket list is a way to be mindful of the personal success you have enjoyed and worked hard to achieve! “Success”, of course, is defined by you and you alone!

We all view success a bit differently.

What you might find on my reverse bucket list:

Raised 3 fiercely independent creative children that make the world a better place.

Help the homeless every holiday providing gift baskets to the Mom’s in a local shelter.

Focused my family spending on adventures rather than buying ‘things’.

Worked hard to save the down payment for our little Maine cottage…my slice of heaven!

Hiked the Grand Canyon.

Piloted a small airplane at 16 years old. Paid for the lessons with my own hard earned cash.

Sipped on a Bourbon cream while strolling Bourbon St. in New Orleans followed by amazing jazz at Preservation hall (a wonderful musical venue in the French Quarter founded in 1961 to preserve Traditional New Orleans Jazz.)

Flew in a hot air balloon over Napa Valley and in a doorless helicopter over the city of Boston.

Visited a 3rd world country.

Helped many, many people with digestive issues find their way to the ‘other side’. The ‘other side’ meaning–the place of digestive system content and peaceful calm.

We all have enjoyed life’s gifts and moments of pride. I hope you take a moment and savor all or some of your accomplishments. And then, say to yourself…YAAAAAAS, I am one amazing human!

And if you would…I’d love to hear from you…what would make it to the top of your reverse bucket list?

12 replies on “Reverse your Bucket List for the New Year!“

Judy Gucker

Following your lead, I just posted this on my FB timeline:
Have you made a New Years resolution? Not me! I’m reversing my bucket list and focusing NOT on what I hope to change in my life in 2018 but instead look a little closer at my life’s journey, be mindful and thankful for what I have already accomplished:
— With the help of two Eds, I raised two marvelous children. I’m boastfully proud of them.
— Ed and I have successfully merged our two families and have remained friends with our former spouses.
— I believe I am friends with my four step-children.
— We have seven terrific grandkids.
— We spent quality time with and aided our aging parents.
— We have traveled to England, Scotland, Germany many times (once touring Germany with Stacy, Ingo, Chuck and Ed Dorgan) and Italy (with Stacy, Ingo and Fiona).
— We have visited 48 states.
— We have lost count of the National Parks we have visited and have hiked and camped in.
— We have lost count of the number of times we have driven across the US.
— I camped from Seattle, WA to Brockport, NY with my daughter Stacy.
— Although we will probably move in 2018 or 2019, we have loved and enjoyed our home and yard.
— I earned my BS in American Studies and graduated summa cum laude at the age of 43.
— We have flown in a hot air balloon over Letchworth State Park and over Albuquerque during the International Balloon Fest.
— We have cruised with the American Canadian Caribbean Line from Warren, RI to Montreal.
— We taken a Viking cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam.
— We took the Millennium Cruise aboard the Delta Queen, tying up to the American Queen for the start of the 21st century. It was so foggy we could only hear the fireworks and the Delta Queen calliope!
— I have twice sailed across Lake Ontario.
— We have been in Sedona, AZ in the snow!
— I visited Nassau in the Bahamas with my daughter Stacy.
— There has been so much more. As my plans for 2018 include going through all our photos, I’ll be given the opportunity to remember many happy family events and forgotten travels.
Attitude is the difference between an ordeal or an adventure. — Bob Bitchin
Happy New Year to one and all!!!!!

Marilyn

Thank you Kate for a wonderful New Years Day post. Love your blog it has helped me so much in the past year. I aim to spend some time writing my reverse bucket list. Looking forward to your next post.
Best wishes for 2018
Marilyn

Paula Moscariello

Wow, what a great idea, a reverse bucket list. This newsletter came at an ideal time. First on my list would be that I worked hard to get incredible people like you on my health care team. I am in Florida till March but I can already say I am deep into competitive shuffleboard, I have 6 wins and 1 loss on the pickleball courts, I have been in the billards room with my husband, to brush up for couples nights. Biked around the park, walked my dog all around and spent Christmas day on sunny, warm, Fort Myers Beach. I can ‘t wait to get to the rest of my list…..Thanks so much Kate!

Maureen Winter

Love the idea of the reverse bucket list!
I do want to say that I’m extremely grateful for finding your blog and all the info you have provided about the FODMAP diet. I was uncomfortable for months but after following the diet for approx 6 weeks I’m feeling much better. I wasn’t diligent during the holidays but am getting back on track this week!
I do have a question…I was trying to figure out if I could eat lentils (my friend made a dynamite soup yesterday but it had onions and garlic, etc). I see that you list canned lentils. So, these are ok to eat but not cooked dried ones?

Thank you again for your wonderful advice and fabulous blog!
Xo Maureen

Hi Maureen, Happy New Year! Glad you liked the reverse bucket list idea! I think it is pretty amazing to look back on all of our wonderful proud moments, adventures and accomplishments. Such a positive thing to do! So…for your lentil question: You can eat the dry lentils too–but just a little less of them. If you cook lentils from dry lentils, consume just 1/4 cup cooked lentils at a sitting. The canned lentils have a little less FODMAPs–so can be consumed in a 1/2 cup portion per sitting. When the lentils are sitting in the water–for a long time– in the can–more of the FODMAPs in the lentils leach into the liquid–which you drain off and do not consume. Hope that helps.